VINCENTIO

Askest thou my griefs, that knowest my desperate love Curbed by my father's stern r alitie: Must not I mourn that know not whither yet I shall en oy a stepdame or a wife? Oh but the eye of watchful jealousy Robs my desires of meanest enjoy her favour. And so she will, I doubt not: would to heaven I had fit time, even now to know her mind: This counsel feeds my heart with much sweet hope. I, theres a parcel of unconstrued stuff, That unknown Minion raised to honours height, Without the help of Virtue, or of Art, Or (to say true) nay of honest partly: Oh how she shames my father! he goes Like A Princes footman, in old fashioned silks, And most times, in his hose and doublet only, So miserable, that his own few men Do beg by virtue of his livery; For he gives none for any service done him, Or any honour, any least reward. Faith I would feign disgrace him by all means, As enemy to his base-bred ignorance, That being a great Lord, cannot write nor read. See, what news with your Nephew Pogio? Out Ass. Zwoundes, might I? lets blanket him my Lord: a blanket here. We both are ready to attend your Highness. Pardon me my Lord, Lord Medicis reading, will express it better The read faced Sun hath firked the flundering shades, And cast bright ammell on A raes brow. The busky groves that gag-tooth'd boars do shroud With cringle crangle horns do ring aloud. It is strangely good, No inkehorne ever did bring forth the Like , Could these brave prancing words with Actions spur, Be ridden thoroughly, and managed right, Would fright the audience, and perhaps delight. I, for such stuff. But t'wil be hard my lord, for one unlearned. I mean, untaught my lord, to make a speech, As a pretended Actor, without close, More gracious then your doublet and your hose. Excuse me then my lord; so stands it well. I hope it will, his wit is pitiful. To none but you; am I to you my Lord? Why then you wrong me Strozza. Now let gull Medi , I do not doubt, But this a ire put on, will put him out. I, fair Nymph; And how the worthy mystery befell here, this wooden God can tell. No the time man, speak. Swonds my Lord, Shall I stand by and suffer him to shame you? My Lord Medice? But you must speak in earnest: Would not your Highness h him speak my Lord? Do then my good Lord. Laugh your fair goddess, This nobleman disdains to be your fool. Swounds my Lord, I is as good a show: Pray speak Lord Strozza. Take heed you be not out I pray my Lord. Too good a plague on him. Zounds, too good man. Plague of that Simile. You do not lead, but drag her leaden steps. Oh fie vpon't, your Rhe oricke was too fine. Thats our chief business: and see, here she comes. You needs must presently devise, What person trusted chiefly with your guard, You think is aptest for me to corrupt, In making him a mean for our safe meeting? Oh what a fellow haz she picked us out? One that I would have choosed passed all the rest, For his close stockings only. Nay then, if nothing must be left unspoke, For his strict form, thus still to wear his cloak. Well, let me alone, He that is one men slave, is free from no . Save you master Bassiolo, I pray a word sir; but I fear I let you. I thank you sir. Nay pray be covered; Oh I cry you mercy, You must be bore. Nay, not to me sir, But to the fair right of your worshipful place. Only to do you right sir, and my self ease. And what sir, will there be some show to night? T'is passing good sir, I'll not be over bold ask the particulars. Oh no good sir, But I did wonder much; for as me thought I saw your hands at work. How virtuous is a worthy men example? Who is this throne for pray? Will be exceeding fit; and all this room Is passing well prepared; a man would swear, That all presentments in it would be rare. In threaves dee call it? Sir, 'tis much. And now isle leave you sir; I know you're busy. I commend me ee Sir. A plague of that fools finger. Cry mercy ir. Gods me, my Lord, Haz he picked you out, pi king of the r to h? Plague on you, peace. A you mad sl we you! you are a tickling Actor. Friend, how conceit you my young mother here? No more of that swee e friend, those are bugs words. Now Vanity and Policy enrich me With some rid culous fortune on this Usher. Where Master Usher? Beside, good sir, your show did show so well, Oh sir, believe it; It the best fashioned and well ordered thing That ever eye beheld: and there withal, The fit attendance by the servants used, The gentle guise in serving eum ry guest, In other entertainments; every thing About your house so sortfully disposed, That e en as in a turnspit called a Jack, One vice assists another; the great wheels Turning but softly, make the less to whir About their business; every different partly Concurring to one commendable end: So, and in such conformance, with rare grace, Were all things ordered in your good lords house. But shall I tell you plainly my conceit, Touching the man that I think caused this order? You note my simile. Should know quoth you; I warrant you know: well, some there be Shall have the fortune to have such rare men, (Like brave beasts to their Arms) support their state, When others of as high a worth and breed, Are made the wasteful food of them they feed: What state hath your Lord made you for your service? No more then fifteen hundred crowns a year? Nay, 'tis pretty well: But certainly my nature does esteem Nothing enough for virtue; and had I The Duke my father's means, all should be spent, To keep brave men about me: but good sir, Accept this simple jewel at my hands, Till I can work persuasion of my friendship, With worthier arguments. Nay, be not strange, But do your self right, and be all one man In all your actions, do not think but some Have extraordinary spirits Like your self, And will not stand in their society, On birth and riches: but on worth and virtue, With whom there is no niceness, nor respect Of others command n friendship; be he poor Or baselv born, so he be rich in soul, And noble in degrees of qualities, He shall be my f iend sooner then a King. Faith sir I know not, but 'tis my vam ne humour. Y'aue some lords now so politic and proud, They scorn to give good looks to worthy men. You sir? so you may, For they will cog so when they wish to use men, With, pray be covered sir, I beseech you fit, Who's there? wait of Master Usher to the door. Oh, these be godly gudgeons: where's the deeds? The perfect Nobleman? Away, away, ere I would flatter so, I woe ld eat rushes Like lord Medici. Alas, it pity sir, they would be gulled Oh to of their very skins. Well, take my jewel, you shall not be strange, I love not man e words. Ti friendly said, You prove your self a friend, and I would have you Advance your thoughts, and lay about for state, Worthy your virtues: be the Minion Of some great King or Duke: theres Medici, The Minion of my Father: Oh the Father! What difference is there? but I cannot flatter A word to wise men. Your Lordship? talk you now Like a friend? Is this plain kindness? A palpable flattering figure for men common: A my word I should think, if it another, He meant to gull me. 'Tis but my endue: if yowl be still a stranger: But as I wish to choose you for my friend, As I intend when God shall call my father, To do I can tell what: but let that pass, Thus 'tis not fit; let my friend be familiar, V e not me Lordship, nor yet call me Lord, Nor my whole name Vincentio; but vince, As they call Jack or Will, 'tis now in use, Betwixt men of no equality or kindness. Nay, see how still you use that continued term, Lord What argues this, but that you shun my friendship? Who hold not say so? Will you fford me now no name at all? Nay, then 'tis no matter. But I told you Vince. Wh e so then; and yet ull there is a fault, In using these kind words, without kind deeds: Pray ee imbra e me too. Why now I thank you, sblood shall friends be strange? Where there is plamenesse, there is ever truth: And I will still be plame since I am true: Come let us lie a little, I am weary. You may sir by my faith; and sirrah, hark thee, What lordship wouldst thou wish to haueifaith, When my old father die? Oh not you, well sir, you shall have none, You are as coy a piece as your Lords daughter. Indeed, is she our Mistress? And are not we too friends? And are not two friends one? Then what to you she is, to me she should be. Oh not I: I do not fancy any thing Like you Take heed now, do not gull me. Then will I be plain. Think you she dotes not too much on my father? Why sweet friend pardon me, alas I knew not. Thank you good friend, For your plain dealing, I do me ne so well. Why faith, deer friend, I would not die requitelesse. Which friend, you shall then. And use some kind persuasive words for me? I, well said, poor tongue: Oh 'tis rich in meekenesle; You are not known to speak well? You have won Direction of the Earl and all his house, The favour of his daughter, and all Dams That ever I saw, come within your sighed, With a poor tongue? A plague a your sweet lips. Well said i'faith; Now if I do not think 'Tis possible, beside her bore receipt Of that my Letter, with thy friendly tongue. To get and answer of it, never trust me. By heaven I think so; now a plague of Nature, That she gives all to some, and none to others. She needs must think it strange, that never yet saw I durst speak to her, or had S arce his sighed. Oh sacred oath! which, how long will you keep? 'Tis elegantly said: and when I fail, Ler there be found in Hybla hives no bees; Let no swan's swim in bright Meander stream Nor lilies spring upon the ban S of Po, Nor let one fat Italian dame be found, But lean and brawn-fallen; I, and scarcely so and. With all my heart. Farewell my woe thie friend, I think I have him. At your wish ruice sir: Oh fine friend, he had forgotten the phrase: How serious apish souls are in vain form: Well, he is mine, and he being trusted most With my deer Jove, may often work our meeting, And being thus ingagde, dare not re eale. Therein thou art worth us all, for thou knowest thy self. See now, they whisper Some private order, (I dare lay my life) For a forced marriage t'wixt my love and father I therefore must make sure: and noble friends, I'll leave you all, when I have brought you forth, And seen you in the chase; meanwhile observe In all the time this solemn hunting lasts, My father and his minion Medice, And note, if you can gather any sign, That they have missed me, and suspect my being, If which fallen out, send home my Page before. Now will the sport begin; I think my love Will handle him, as well as I have done. Soft sir, I know not, I being her sworn servant, If I may put up these disgraceful words, Given of my Missed is, without touch of honour. Nay then sir, if it be to grace your self, I am content; but otherwise you know, I was to take exceptions to a King. By heaven no less sir, it is the best thing; Gods what a beast am I. Pardon me sir, I protest I was ravished: but was it possi ble she should prefer hers before this? I'll have't , heeres enough in it for my letters as long as I live; I'll it to breed on as it: But I much wonder you could make her write. How strong and influence works in placed words, And yet there must be a prepared love, To give those words so mighty a command, Or it impossible they should move so much: And will you tell me true? Does not this Lady love you? Nay but i'faith, does she not love you dearly? Oh, you're too true to tell. Very little more, Would make him take her maidenhead upon him: Well friend, I rest yet in a little doubt, This was not hers. Oh passing friend. Will be most pleasing. As a man should. I, but what speech? Inspire him folly. Now was there ever such a demilance, To bear a man so clear through thick and thin? And so I were by heaven; how know you that? Fetch her sweet friend, I'll hit your words I warrant, How easily worthless men take worth upon them, And being over credulous of their own worths, Do underprize as much the worth of others. The fool is rich, and absurd riches thinks All merit is rung out, where his purse chinks. Lady, your back partly is as sweet to me As all your forc partly. Laugh you fair Dame? If you will laugh and lie down, I am pleased. Oh I, what else? and I made him embrace me, a most familiar league of friendship. Gods me, he taught me, I spoke out of him. Well, in these homely wiles, must our loves mask, Since power denies him his right, No mean but one, And that is closely to be married first, Which I perceive not how we can perform: For at my father's coming back from hunting, I fear your father and himself resolve, To bar my interest with his present nuptials. This is our only mean enjoy each other: And, my deer life, I will devise a form To execute the substance of our minds, In honoured . First then hide your face With this your spotless white and virgin veil: Now this my scarf I'll knit about your arm, As you shall knit this other end on mine, And as I knit it, here I vow by Heaven, By the most sweet imaginary joys, Of untried nuptials; by loves ushering fire, Fore-melting beauty, and loves flame it self. As this is soft and pliant to your arm In a circumferent flexure, so will I Be tender of your welfare and your will, As of mine own, as of my life and soul, In all things, and for ever; only you Shall have this care in fullness, only you Of all dams shall be mine, and only you I'll court, continued end and joy in, till I die. It is enough, and binds as much as marriage. Now my sweet life, we both remember well What we have vowed shall all be kept entire Maugre our father's wraths, danger and death: And to confirm this, shall we spend our breath? Be well advised, for yet your choice shall be In all things as before, as large and free. And I: and now in token I dissolve Your virgin state, I take this snowy veil, From your much fairer face, and claim the dues Of sacred nuptials: and now fairest heaven, As thou art infinitely raised from earth, Different and opposite, so bless this match, As far removed from Customs popular sects, And as unstained with her abho ed respects. Or else forget me heaven. Why am I sought for by this Pogio? The Ass is great with child of some ill news, His mouth is never filled with other found. Here he is Ass, what and exclaiming keepest thou? Pl gues take thy tongue, is he in any danger? Accursed news, where is he, bring me to him I do not fear your life, But, Doctor, is it your opinion, That the seventh day the arrow head will out? What ere it be, deer friend, so you be well, I will endure it all; your wounded state Is all the danger I fear towards me. Be as will be; pray heaven your prophecy Be happily accomplished in your self, And nothing then can come amiss to me. Haz the best spirit. Nay, pray thee do not mock her gentle friend. Lady, now I were too simple if I should not offer. T'is the most true believer in himself: Of all that sect of folly faith's his fault. Oh fine phrase, What now sweet life, shall we resolve upon? We never shall enjoy each other here. That would extremely grieve me, could my self Only endure the ill, our hardest fates, May lay on both of us; I would not care, But to behold thy sufferance, I should die. Gods precious man, What did you mean to put us in this fear? I have S me Jewels then my dearest life, Which with what ever we can get beside, Shall be our means, and we will make escape. Nay, then i'faith Your jest is too too stale. Good friend cease. Honoured friend; He is my father, and he is my Prince, In both whose rights he ma command my life. My Lord, I know the malice of this man, Not your unkind consent hath used us thus. And since I make no doubt I shall survive These fatal dangers; and your grace is pleased, To give free course to my unwounded love; T'is not this outward beauty's ruthful lose, Can any thought discourage my desires: And therefore, deer life, do not wrong me so, To think my love the shadow of your beauty, I woo your virtues, which as I am sure No accident can altar or impair; So, be you certain nought can change my love. Nor is it now; I wooed your beauty first But as a lover: now as a deer husband, That title and your virtues bind me ever. Oh be not so uncharitable sweet friend, Let him confess his sins, and ask heaven pardon. I humbly thank your Highness honoured Doctor The Balsome you infused into my wounds, Hath eased me much, and given me sudden strength Enough assure all danger is exempt, That any way may let the general joy, My Princely Father speaks of in our nuptials. Well said, ham mere, hammer. One word I pray. I see you have me, Even as in that quaint engine you have seen, A little man in shreds stand at the winder, And seems to put all things in act about him, Lifting and pulling with a mighty stir, Yet adds no force to it, nor nothing does: So, (though your Lord be a brave Gentleman) And seems to do this business, He does nothing; Some man about him was the festival robe, That made him show so glori us and divine. Who I, I care not: If I be guild wh re I profess plain love, Will be their faults you know. Swears my deer friend? by what? I hope I shall. I know that well sir, thou never bringest other; whats your news now, I pra A pretty term: Well sir I thank you highly for this kindness, And pray you always make as bold with me For kindness more then this, if more may be. A very good reason. You do not mean to marry her your self? I cry you mercy sir, I know we could not, but yet be not oo bitter, Considering love is fearful. And sweet friend, I have a letter entreat her kindness. Which if you would convey. Nay, I pray you speak. My Lord horse? you ass d'e call my Lord horse?